Dodgers lose another 2013 piece, Mark Ellis

First it was Nick Punto who jumped ship, agreeing to a deal worth a guaranteed $3 million with the Oakland A's early on in free agency.

Then Skip Schumaker signed a two-year contract with Cincinnati, and, last week, Jerry Hairston Jr. announced his retirement from baseball.

Now, just about completing the exodus of the Dodgers' veteran infielders, second baseman Mark Ellis is heading to the NL champion St. Louis Cardinals, with whom he reportedly agreed to a one-year deal Sunday.

Ellis was the Dodgers' starting second baseman for the last two seasons. The Dodgers were 69-37 in games he started in 2013 and 23-33 in games he sat.

The Cardinals have a talented young second baseman slated to start in 2014 in Kolten Wong, he of the infamous World Series pick-off screwup, but Ellis could split time with him in a righty-lefty platoon.

The Dodgers are planning to start Cuban signee Alexander Guerrero at second next season, but General Manager Ned Colletti remained in contact with Ellis and his agent this offseason in case Guerrero proved unprepared.

With Juan Uribe back in the fold at third base, the Dodgers' primary needs now are on the bench and in the bullpen.

Only catcher Tim Federowicz remains from the team's opening-day bench last season.

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